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Smart Home & Home Automation discussion thread

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One quick note: if you're doing a Mr. Slim HVAC system, make sure to secure the outside unit down. My buddy did a couple on concrete pads and a couple bolted to his house (older wooden home) using brackets. The ones on brackets produce a thrumming sound akin to a diesel truck idling in the distance. The other ones are virtually silent because the vibration isn't picked up from the concrete pads.

Also as an FYI, they do have an iPhone remote control app available:

http://www.mitsubishipro.com/en/professional/resources-and-tools/mezo-controller-app

Details on supported HVAC controllers is available in the app store description:

http://www.mitsubishipro.com/en/professional/resources-and-tools/mezo-controller-app

To me, this is the ultimate HVAC system: control via remote, smartphone, or HA software & per-room control of heating & cooling. Even better than your traditional zoned HVAC system because you can control it per-room, which is useful if you have different people with different temperature requirements (i.e. if you're in a multi-generation home & grandma needs it at 90F in her room, or if your wife likes it 54F you and you like it 72F) and also just to save power, since you don't have to heat or cool the rooms you're not using.
 
Also somewhat related, I got to play with some new Low-E Argon-filled windows. They were AMAZING! It was 20F outside and your hand could be an inch away without knowing how cold it was. It was mildly cold when you put your hand directly on the glass inside the house. My existing windows are horrifically bad, they feel like an air conditioner turned on when you pull the shades up 😀
 
Good article on under-floor heating systems:

http://www.theselfbuilder.com/advice/heating-your-home/629-underfloor-heating

"In Scandinavian countries as many as 80 per cent of homes are warmed by underfloor heating" - had no idea! I've seen them here & there in the US, but that's a neat gadget to have in your home - the floor always feels good on bare feat! A quick google search came up with Thermosoft for radiant floor heating systems for tile, ceramic, floating wood floors, and laminate flooring:

http://www.thermosoft.com/
 
Kaido said:
Also, very cool news on the motorized window shade front - Somfy Systems has introduced a solar-powered battery system, so you don't need an electrician for hardwiring and you don't need to constantly replace batteries!

http://www.somfysystems.com/en-us/home/our-products/product-solutions/solar.html

Photo of system in this article:

http://greentechadvocates.com/2011/10/26/somfy-introduces-solar-powered-shading/
Click to expand...

Lets see 30 windows x $220 per shade... damnit why must all the cool things be so expensive.
 
shabby said:
Lets see 30 windows x $220 per shade... damnit why must all the cool things be so expensive.
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even outlet adapters for wireless control are pricey. $40 bucks per outlet is the cheapest i've seen unless you want to go old school with x10.
 
shabby said:
Lets see 30 windows x $220 per shade... dangit why must all the cool things be so expensive.
Click to expand...

No no, you have it all wrong - it's only $220 per solar module per shade. You still need the motor & the shade itself! 😀

On the flip side, you can control them by remote (or on a timer or daylight sensor or whatever via software or other detectors) and the system is self-maintaining for years (until the rechargeable battery needs to be replaced).
 
vshah said:
even outlet adapters for wireless control are pricey. $40 bucks per outlet is the cheapest i've seen unless you want to go old school with x10.
Click to expand...

And that's where the economics question comes in - is it worth a few grand (minimum) to do up your whole house with these things, when you can simply pull a cord to control them yourself? A lot of stuff with home automation is "that's cool, but it's expensive to do it!"

Plus, I am a big fan of failsafe systems. I'll only buy a smartlock if I can also stick a physical key in it, just in case something goes wrong with the electronics inside (failure, hack, power loss, network disruption, etc.). I'd prefer to only purchase motorized window shades & drapes that also support manual control, but I don't know if those actually exist (imagine if the motor broke with the shades in the "up" position and you were stuck with everyone looking inside your house a night until a replacement motor came in & then you have to install it...).
 
Found another neat electronic gadget - the Skywater system:

http://www.islandsky.com

Basically it's a dehumidifer with a built-in water filter to turn water from the air into usable water. The indoor model can produce up to 5 gallons of drinking water a day (best guess at price from googling is $1800). There's also outdoor model that can pull up to 300 gallons a day (best guess at price is $16k) for drinking, showering, dishwasher, laundry machine, etc. Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dahpq2Y4UwI

Pretty cool idea...now all I need is a Stillsuit version and I can move to Arizona :awe:
 
RossMAN said:
If/when this goes on sale, I'm seriously considering it:
http://www.costco.com/Insteon-Home-Monitoring-and-Control-Kit.product.100083352.html

Here's something else that piqued my curiosity:
http://www.costco.com/LUXERA-SmartS...with-4-PAR30-LED-Lamps.product.100089256.html
Click to expand...

1. Neat! I've never seen INSTEON products in the wild before, let alone in a box set!
2. FYI - the INSTEON Hub has terrible reviews (both on Amazon & Smarthome.com, and I'm talking out of over 400+ reviews). Great concept, poor execution (seems to be primarily a software issue). Better to go with a computer software controller like Indigo with a USB INSTEON adapter to talk to the network.
3. Nice, added Luxera to the Lighting section!

We're in a transitional state right now. Wi-fi is getting added to more stuff and Bluetooth 4.0 & Wi-Direct are being integrated into devices for low power requirements & long battery life (Bluetooth speakers, the Roku 3's non-IR remote with a headphone jack, etc.), but we're not to an "Internet of Things" with central control quite yet. I think the next step is to standard communication protocols so we can start getting things to talk to each other.

Something as simple as encrypted HTTP-driven XML commands would be fine & could talk across devices (Bluetooth, Wifi/Ethernet, Wi-Direct, Zwave, etc.). This way there is a single communication system that is protocol-independent and manufacturers could simply publish their codes to be used on the backend. For example, a standard white LED light bulb would have the commands "on, off, lighting level 1 to 100". Then your backend could handle remote on/off commands, dimming via ramping the light levels, lightswitch command signals, "smart" control signals driven by time-of-day, user schedule, etc. Every smarts-enabled electronics manufacturer has their own system, but nobody really talks to each other very well. I'd like to see that change sooner rather than later!

Google is making some good strides: they've got Cloud Print for printers, the Chrome stick for streaming media, etc. But they're also competing with Airprint, Airplay, Sonos, Plex, and hardwired systems. I don't think that the vendors need to publish their specific code, but if they can make a middle-manager communication system for basic commands per device and then publish them to an online directory, then your choice of backend can simply grab the latest database copy and have a complete copy of all devices & commands in existence. Logitech has done a great job of that with their Harmony series of remotes - one remote to rule them all, coupled with a cloud-backed command database for the majority of televisions, receivers, and set-top players.

Integration, people! 😀 It shouldn't require a programmer to come in post-hardware install to set it up - everything should "see" each other on the network and give you a drag-and-drop type of system for setting up lights, HVAC, multimedia, sensors, etc. It's not rocket science; I just don't think any kind of consortium like that exists right now because there's zero "control smarts" available right now. I think that would definitely help foster home automation growth for regular homes, instead of a just high-end homes, because then you can run down to Home Depot or Lowes and pick up outlets, switches, garage door openers, anything really and be able to have it talk to your system instantly!
 
Now that I think about it, the control spec could be pretty simple:

1. Auto-discovery: Similiar to Bluetooth: upon power-on, it transmits a "find me" network signal with a PIN code to pair to the host.

2. Published functions: The usable commands over the network. Again with the light bulb example: a smart LED bulb (let's say Wifi-enabled) would have On, Off, and Light Level (1 to 100 steps for brightness). A more advanced model would have RGB values (like the Philips Hue bulb). Or you could do it universal with either a smart socket adapter, smart lamp, smart wallwart adapter, or smart in-wall outlet.

3. Recommended usage: In addition to the published functions (ex. LIGHT ON, LIGHT OFF, LIGHT LEVEL 40%), it would have recommended usage. For example, on a light, the recommended usage would include a ramping function to program into the host computer, i.e. "REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT FROM 100% to 40% in 1-step increments over a 20-second period" to dim to a low level.

4. Host Adapter Requirement: There are a lot of different communication methods (packet-based Ethernet/Wi-fi, Wi-direct, Bluetooth, INSTEON powerline/RF, Zwave RF, IR, RFID, 1-wire, low-power 2-line relay, etc.) so a hardware requirement for the host to communication with the device would be required. If you want to talk to INSTEON, then you need a USB to INSTEON RF or powerline adapter, that sort of thing.

I hereby declare the Kaido Communication System (KCS) to be free & open source forever. Manufacturers & industry, feel free to use this in your products from this point forward 😀

The best I've seen is Indigo for Mac. The downsides are (1) it requires a Mac (which means you need one, if you don't have one, and if you only have a laptop, then good luck with the USB adapters for controlling equipment & controlling it when you're away from home!) & (2) it requires a computer to be on for 24/7 operation. There are so many little ARM chips that could be used like a little router to be your always-on home controller, similar to the INSTEON Hub concept but actually reliable. It wouldn't be that hard to put two motherboards in there (for redundancy) with a battery backup and SD cards to host off of & have a local backup of your data.

Something like a hardened Linux backend running Misterhouse with an HTML5 consumer-friendly GUI would be awesome. Daily automatic updates for newly-published codes, and a scad of USB ports on the back for adding compatibility for Zwave, Wifi, Ethernet, INSTEON, whatever. So if you were to buy a new product that your server didn't support, you'd just buy the host controller piece, plug it into the back of your home automation server, and then add your new device(s) to the network for auto-discovery & control. Easy peasy. Doesn't need to be more complex than that! 🙂
 
Something like the open-hardware ARM-powered BeagleBoard would be perfect for a small home controller unit:

http://beagleboard.org/

In a similar vein to SteamOS & Steamboxes - different manufacturers could provide different levels of hardware, depending on your needs. Then throw on Hardened Linux from Scratch: (HLFS)

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/hlfs/

And then create a community for scripts that you could add to your server, like apps from the app store. So a standard lighting package would include control scripts for "time of day", "user schedule by calendar date & time", "vacation mode", "smartphone remote control" and so on. So to recap:

1. Open hardware server (BeagleBoard)
2. Open software server (HLFS + Misterhome)
3. Online central repository (Manufacturer data + Scripts repository)
4. Standardized, encrypted device communications protocol (ex. HTTPS XML + Python programming language)
5. HTML5 front-end (and since the language is standardized, you could tie it into smartphone apps, webpages, Flash interfaces, whatever you want really)

See, it's not complex. All of this stuff already exists. Technology keeps getting smaller, cheaper, faster, lower-power, and more powerful. What we lack is a standardized system to get everything talking in a consumer-friendly way. Here's what I imagine for the future:

1. Purchase a central home controller (the backend - a dual-board Beagleboard for failover, each with an SD card & one SD card for backup, and an integrated hot-swap battery backup)
2. Say "oh, I want a Smart Outlet, so I buy one from Home Depot"
3. Let's say it uses Zwave, so you buy the Outlet plus the Control Module (a USB to Zwave RF adapter for your central home computer)
4. Plug the Control Module into the home server (auto-recognized per daily downloaded specs)
5. Install the Outlet. It's auto-discovered by the home server, so you pair it to your network and then program in what you want it to do. For example, the top outlet could be on/off only for an appliance like a floorstanding fan. The bottom could be on/off/dim for a floor lamp.
6. Now that the super-easy programming is done, you can control it from a smart wallswitch, a smartphone, a computer via webpage, and timers & other schedules. Or hook it up to a pre-made script like "vacation mode" so it turns on randomly in the evening hours while you're away.

We're almost there. Again, Indigo is the best I've seen, but the easiest route to go would be a $600 Mac Mini that you have to run 24/7, manage your own backup, install your own control software, and still doesn't talk to everything. And then you have issues like INSTEON, which doesn't work 100% of the time, even on the new RF-driven dual-band equipment.

So I think we have a ways to go, and what we're really lacking is simply a central managing body to implement something simple like this. Apple, are you listening? Haha!
 
Google reportedly testing smart thermostats in 'EnergySense' program:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/16/google-testing-smart-thermostat-energysense/

Will be interesting to see if Google jumps into the Home Automation system...they're dipping their toes in with always-on voice commands on their cell phones, Chromecast for wireless audio & video, etc. It's supposed to occupy a different niche than the Nest, more energy-management oriented.
 
Looks like at least one other person has the same idea: (and is actually doing something about it!)

http://makezine.com/2013/10/04/the-thing-system-aims-to-revolutionize-home-automation/

Marshall T. Rose was recently at the O’Reilly Video Studio to discuss The Thing System, an open-source solution for both home automation and controlling the internet of things. It’s currently in alpha, but already boasts an impressive array of functionality with devices as varied as lightbulbs and Tesla automobiles.

Where it differs from other home automation systems is in its versatility. The Thing System isn’t a stand-alone entity, but one that can adapt to a variety of devices over several wireless protocols. Using machine learning, it will also have the capability to anticipate the user’s behaviors, turning it into a true piece of assistive tech rather than a glorified remote control.
Click to expand...

Really good interview. A couple related articles:

http://www.itworld.com/networking/381039/how-marshall-rose-building-home-future

http://siliconangle.com/blog/2013/11/04/the-thing-system-aims-to-make-your-home-super-smart/

Also related, a discussion of new encryption protocols: (nice to deter hackers from making your house go wonky)

http://strom.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/encryption-protocols/
 
A couple short, related articles about intelligence & home automation:

http://www.ecofactor.com/intelligence-automation-winning-combination/

http://www.greentechmedia.com/artic...-market-to-surpass-4-billion-in-the-us-by-201

I like how it was put in the article about The Thing System a post up - creating kind of an "autocomplete" for home automation that automates routines. Nest is probably the first commercial product I've seen that does a reasonable job "learning" about you. I think the right fit for most people will be a system that operates like it should, like how natural mapping works in the physical work (ex. when you open a door and the lightswitch is right inside, instead of behind the door) - not overly "smart", but rather smarter to fit our lifestyles. Like in the middle of the night, sensing you're getting up to use the bathroom and instead of turning on the lights, just turning on some LED floor runners so you don't bump into stuff on your way.
 
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